Encouraged By Rising Support From Intellectuals in China: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Encouraged By Rising Support From Intellectuals in China, Says His Holiness the Dalai Lama [Monday, 22 February 2010, 10:35 a.m ]

His Holiness
the Dalai Lama said Saturday that he is encouraged by what he sees as
rising support for the Tibetan cause among Chinese intellectuals.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama poses in Beverly Hills, California, on 20 February 2010.

Dharamshala: His
Holiness arrived in Los Angeles on Friday and planned to spend the
weekend here in support of Whole Child International, a nonprofit
organization that works on behalf of orphaned and abandoned children. In an interview with Los Angeles Times,
His Holiness said “there had been no progress in the latest round of
talks with China over his call for genuine autonomy in Tibet”. Still,
His Holiness said growing support from Chinese people could help in
making progress. “The number of Chinese intellectuals and writers
[coming] out, they openly support our middle way approach and [are]
very critical of their own government policy,” His Holiness told LA Times. His
Holiness said “Chinese intellectuals had become more sympathetic to
Tibet as a result of peaceful demonstrations in 2008 that prompted a
swift, violent response from Chinese authorities. Since then, His
Holiness said, he has met many Chinese who say they were unaware of the
Tibetan issue until the demonstrations. Now, he said, they find his
call for a self-governing Tibet that remains a part of China to be
“very sensible, very logical.” His Holiness said “Chinese
writers had published 800 articles in support of Tibetan autonomy, 300
of them published in China itself”. His Holiness briefly
discussed his Thursday meeting with President Obama. His Holiness said
he had met with the president because “it was my duty to inform or
report what the situation was in the relationship with the Chinese
government.” Asked if he saw any progress there, His Holiness
said, “No progress. . . . Always the Chinese authorities [are] very
hardened. Not only [against] Tibetans, but also . . . toward their own
people.” His LA visit included a luncheon speech Saturday and
a public address scheduled for Sunday at Gibson Amphitheatre, where he
will be joined by musician Sheryl Crow.Related:Note on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan PeopleMemorandum On Genuine Autonomy For The Tibetan People Summary Of The Memorandum On Genuine Autonomy For The Tibetan People His Holiness addresses to the plenary session of the European ParliamentKalon Tripa’s Keynote Address on “Greater Tibet”